Aveiro - General Info
Description:
This “little Venice” is an attractive place to visit with its maze of canals, brightly painted fishing boats and sandy beaches. It lies approximately 30nm south of Oporto and the mouth of the Rio Vouga.
A new shipyard here (2021) with storage and a range of repair facilities, has improved the services available to visiting yachts.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
Entry used to be difficult here if approaching outside of high water or in any amount of wind/swell. The northern breakwater has now been extended, however, making conditions more stable and approach in most weather is possible. Do take care though as this port is very active with commercial ships, so it’s quite possible you may have to give way on approach.
Also be aware of the unlit HT cables (clearance 8m) across the Canal da Mira which enters the main canal, Canal de Embocadura, on the stand side shortly after passing the southern breakwater.
The river is generally too shallow to allow most boats to reach the city, which is 8 miles from the entrance.
Position:
40°38.32’N, 08°45.91’W (entrance)
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Related to following destinations: Atlantic Coast (Portugal), Aveiro, Portugal
Port Navigation
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Update from October 2021. The anchorage at Sao Jacinto has excellent holding, but not a great deal of space.
There is a Yacht Club called Marina Antiga Lota which is 10 minutes walk from Aveiro town centre… however, it is a busy dock, and being 8 miles up the river you should really try and call and make sure there’s space before going all the way up there.
Ria the Aveiro is also worth a visit if you like nature and have a boat that can dry out (shallow draft or a swing keel). The Torreira marina is very friendly and you can find water and electricity and WIFI at the clubhouse (https://www.cm-murtosa.pt/pages/786?poi_id=84). The town of Torreira offers nice restaurants and shops for supplies.
An hour before we arrived at Aveiro the swell and the fog increased dramatically. Luckily a gap in the fog appeared as we entered, but the swell was still large. But with the recent extension of the northern breakwater, there was no problem whatsoever coming in.
The biggest issue is keeping an eye on the AIS to get plenty of warning of the tankers and cargo ships coming out, as they are speeding along at 10+kts from quite a ways up the channel (beyond outline of sight with the fog).
You definitely wouldn’t want to be coming in with strong weather and swell if one of them is coming out, so we were able to hang out south of the channel and let one pass before entering.
The anchorage at Sao Jacinto has really good holding, and there was enough room for 6 boats staggered between the last green mark and the mooring field. The ferries will go full speed and you will get tossed about a bit, but generally a great anchorage.
Anchored at Sao Jacinto for the night. Strong current on the ebb all the way from the river entrance to the anchorage entrance (2.5 knots, 3 in some places, 2 days after neaps). Dozens of small powerboats with rod fishermen drifting in the entrance and the river, idling their engines.
Watch out for when they reposition themselves, often in reverse. Entrance and safe channel into Sao Jacinto is marked for the ferry. There is a small strip with room for about 4 boats to anchor between the last starboard-hand marker and the mooring field, but do not impede the ferry.
Beware of very shallow sandbank immediately to the south of this strip. Shallow draft vessels may find additional space in the SW area of the bay.
Small Ro-Ro ferry goes from town docks to Aveiro quite often but does not cause significant wake (less than the fishermen). Had a very quiet night there, anchor dug in well in thick mud. Stay away from the military area (Paratrooper hangar).
Forget the small marina in Torreira, only berths for small fisher boats, marina dries to 1-meter draught.